World War Memorial, (sculpture).

World War Memorial, (sculpture).

Sabatino, Thomas A., sculptor.

World War Memorial, (sculpture).

World War I Memorial, (sculpture).

Dedicated Oct. 29, 1933.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: granite; Plaques: bronze.

Overall: approx. 5 ft. 3 in. x 8 ft. x 4 ft. 4 in.

(Small plaque on boulder below faces, raised lettering:) DEDICATED - OCT. 29, 1933/THE EX-SERVICEMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS/BRIDGEPORT, CONN./THOMAS SABATINO - SCULPTOR/MAYOR EDWARD T. BUCKINGHAM - CHAIRMAN/HONORARY MEMBER V.F.W./COMMANDER EDWARD T. RILEY - V.F.W./COMMANDER ALBERT S. WHEWAY - AMERICAN LEGION/COMMANDER MAY J. SMITH - D.A.V./COMMANDER R. MILLS TRUE - NAVAL VETERANS/FRANK M. PARKER - HONORARY MEMBER V.F.W. (Large plaque on side of boulder:) THIS TABLET IS DEDICATED TO BRIDGEPORT'S SONS AND DAUGHTERS WHO GAVE/UP THEIR LIVES THAT THE WORLD MIGHT BE A BETTER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE/(List of names of Bridgeport citizens who lost their lives in World War II) unsigned

The memorial consists of a boulder carved with the faces of a soldier, a sailor, and a marine. Beneath the faces is a small bronze plaque. One side of the boulder is covered with a large bronze plaque that was added to commemorate Bridgeport citizens who lost their lives during World War II. This plaque has a relief of an eagle above four columns of names.

History -- United States -- World War I

History -- United States -- World War II

Figure male -- Fragment -- Face

Occupation -- Military -- Soldier

Occupation -- Military -- Sailor

Occupation -- Military -- Marine

Dress -- Uniform -- Military Uniform

Animal -- Bird -- Eagle

Outdoor Sculpture -- Connecticut -- Bridgeport

Administered by City of Bridgeport, Parks & Recreation Department, 45 Lyon Terrace, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604

Located McLevy Hall, Broad Street, east side, facing Bank & State Streets, Bridgeport, Connecticut

Formerly located Fairfield County Courthouse, Broad Street, east side, facing Bank & State Streets, Bridgeport, Connecticut

Formerly located City Hall, Broad Street, east side, facing Bank & State Streets, Bridgeport, Connecticut

The faces of the soldier, sailor, and marine were modeled after photographs on a magazine cover. Originally the sculpture commemorated Bridgeport's World War I dead, but was later updated to include World War II dead with the addition of the large bronze plaque on the side of the boulder. IAS files contain an article from The Bridgeport Sunday Post, Nov. 28, 1937, which discusses controversy surrounding the style of the memorial. McLevy Hall is the former Fairfield County Courthouse and the former City Hall.

For related information see David W. Palmquist's "Bridgeport: A Pictorial History," Virginia Beach, VA: The Donning Company, 1981, pg. 107; and the Historical Collections at the Bridgeport Public Library.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Connecticut survey, 1993.

The Bridgeport Sunday Post, Nov. 28, 1937.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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